US Coast Guard Rescues Snowmobiler From Lake Erie

CLEVELAND (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard says it has rescued a snowmobiler who floated into Lake Erie from Canada after falling into the water and climbing onto a loose piece of ice about the size of a football field.

Jim Turton of Colchester, Ontario, floated for about nine hours before being rescued at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday - his 45th birthday - by the crew of an ice-breaking tug temporarily assigned to the Great Lakes from New London, Conn.

Officials say Turton was one of four snowmobilers who fell through ice near Colchester around 11:25 p.m. Tuesday. The others climbed onto ice connected to shore.

Following the rescue, Turton was transferred to a Canadian coast guard ship.

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